Export projects from Cakewalk for import into ProTools?

[misterindie]

Hello all! I am interested in exporting my current projects to take into a local studio for mixing and was curious if anyone has any wisdom or warnings to share. All the local studios I am looking at use ProTools. 

I have no experience with this, but am assuming it would look something like this:

1. Bounce all of the clips in each track down to a single clip.
2. Export each track individually (label accurately, etc.)
3. Consolidate each song's exported individual tracks to a separate folder.

In addition, I am using several plugins and soft synths (EZDrummer3, some synths, and special vocal plugins), so I am thinking that I should perhaps export some of those individual instrument/vocal tracks twice, once totally dry, and then apply the effects and export a second copy with the effects baked in.

Anything else I am missing? I would also love to hear about other's experience with taking your home recordings into a local studio for mixing. I am pretty happy with most of my mixes (maybe 95% happy), but feel like a pro could really make them stand out much better (I am struggling in particular with some mid-high frequencies in a few tracks that I can't seem to tame). And lastly, I am curious about having a studio run my songs through their analog equipment to warm everything up a bit and perhaps really make everything sound like a cohesive whole. Thoughts?
 

[Amberwolf]

I'd strongly recommend asking them exactly what they want and in what format.   No point in wasting time doing a bunch of work exporting/etc only to have to redo it all again to match their needs.

 

FWIW, if you are exporting each track as a complete full-length wave file there's no need to bounce the clips first.  Just select the track for the full time range of the song, and export that single track.   You can choose during export to do it with or without track fx.  

 

 

[mettelus]

3 hours ago, Amberwolf said:

I'd strongly recommend asking them exactly what they want and in what format. 

+1 to this, you want to fully understand what they do and expect to receive from you. For mixing purposes, stems are usually dry (they cannot "unbake" FX you applied), and broadcast wav files are often used so that stems import at the proper timestamp. Again, talking to them to understand the exact requirements they have will give you a better start to things.

[misterindie]

Thank you both for your responses. I should have mentioned that I already emailed the local studio I am interested in working with to see what their format requirements, etc. would be, I suppose I was just interested in hearing any tips, tricks, etc. or just general experience in taking a home recording into the studio. I am 95% happy with my mixes, but that last 5% is a real bear and so I am really hoping for some magic by taking them to a pro instead of me hammering away endlessly. I purchases Curves Equator and find it easy to use, but still not quite what I need to tame some harsh frequencies (I am sure it is my lack of ear training, etc.). Instead of purchasing any more plugins, I think that money would be better spent in the studio (as I might also learn some stuff while I am there!). 

[misterindie]

16 hours ago, Amberwolf said:

I'd strongly recommend asking them exactly what they want and in what format.   No point in wasting time doing a bunch of work exporting/etc only to have to redo it all again to match their needs.

 

FWIW, if you are exporting each track as a complete full-length wave file there's no need to bounce the clips first.  Just select the track for the full time range of the song, and export that single track.   You can choose during export to do it with or without track fx.  

 

 

Thanks for the tip regarding no need to bounce clips! This was exactly the sort of stuff I was hoping to get out of this thread! 

[John Vere]

The standard format for sending a project from any Daw to be mixed elsewhere is to export all tracks as both dry stems and wet stems. This allows the engineer to listen to your choice of effects and

 automation and if they like your wet stems they can use them. If the don’t then they can use a dry stem. 

Here’s my workflow for this. 

The first run you choose Tracks no effects or automation “ Dry”!

You can now choose to export mono and stereo in same batch very cool feature they just added. 

48/. 32 no dithering 

Super important! Entire project starting at zero 

The tracks will be named automatically so make sure they are clearly labeled in the track view. 
 

Second pass just change to all stereo and tracks through entire mix. “Wet” 

I also would export your entire mix as well for a reference. 

They will also be labeled as such.